IDENTIFICATION OF METHICILLIN RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCCUS AUREUS FROM SURGICAL WOUND SWAB AND ITS ANTIMICROBIAL SENSITIVITY

Abstract

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization is known to increase the risk of surgical site infections and currently there is no proper recommendation for postoperative S. aureus screening and decolonization because the data from surgical settings is still unclear. A prospective, cross-sectional investigation was carried out in a lab at Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar, Pakistan. The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute's (CLSI) recommendations were followed for isolating pathogens from wound and pus swabs. Wound swabs were taken from 146 patients, admitted in the surgical ward and were then cultured on Mannitol Salt Agar and CLED Agar. Using microbiological methods, Staphylococcus aureus was identified, and the disk diffusion method was used to screen for antibiotic susceptibility. By using cefoxitin (30 µg) disk testing, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus has been identified. Further confirmed by gram staining and biochemical catalase and coagulase tests. The study comprised 146 wound and pus samples, in which 79 (54.10%) of the patients were males and 67 (45.89) were females. The age group of 11–20 years old had the highest incidence of surgical site infections (SSIs) (22.1%). Of the patients that were enrolled, 114 (78.08%) had Staphylococcus aureus isolated from them. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) made up 103 cases (70.54%) of these, whilst methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) made up 7.53%. High levels of resistance to cefoxitin (90.35%) and erythromycin (77.19%) were found in antimicrobial susceptibility testing, but vancomycin exhibited 100% sensitivity. This study emphasizes the high incidence of surgical site infections (SSIs) and the rising concern over antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus aureus. The significant rates of antibiotic resistance that have been found highlight the urgent need for strong antimicrobial stewardship initiatives and stringent infection control procedure.